Illuminated character for electric signs



Nov. 3, 1931. I I c. J. WAMSER 7 1,830,414

I ILLUMINATED CHARACTER FOR ELECTRIC SIGNS Filed Dec. 21, 1929 I 4 rzzfazzfbf G/Zczfkv max (5 dwrrzg a l, helium, argon, and the like. Heretoiore, in constructing signs of the I able Patented Nov. 3, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES J. 'WLISEB, OF IILWAUKER WIBCONIN ILLUKINATED CHARACTER FOB ELECTRIC SIGNS Application fled December 81, 1929. Serial No. 415,718.

This invention pertains to illuminated characters for elec.ric signs, and more particularly to those utilizing luminescent indicia vacuum tubes employing gas, such as neon,

foregoing character, it has been common practice to attach the characters vor words formed with the luminescent tubes, to a suitlate or support, leaving the tubes exosedE resulting in frequent breakage or amage to the tubes, radio interference, and shortening of the illuminating current by the accumulation of water or moisture between the tube and support.

The present invention has for its object to overcome the foregoing objections by the provision of a simple, inexpensive protecting plate or panel for the tubes, the same being preferably formed of transparent or Ijlorentine glass, whereby the illuminated mdicia tubes are protected against damage from contact therewith, and radio interference is eliminated, as well as the possible accumulation of water, snow, or moisture, and at the same time the indicia area rendered more clearly visible.

Incidental to the foregoing, a more specific object of the present invention is to materially increase the illuminating efiect of the tubes, by the provision of a transparent or Florentine covered (panel provided with raised portions shape to the contour of the indicia tubes, but of considerable greater width than the diameter of the tubes, thus giving the effect of a much heavier illuminated character, and rendering the same more readily discernible. i

A still further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated indicia unit comrisin a supporting panel preferably con- ?orme of opaque non-conductin material, to which the indicia tube is secure y attached, and a cover panel of transparent or Florentine glass securely assembled therewith and functioning to produce the foregoing objects, whereby the entire unit may e readily assembled in a suitable frame, thus facilitatin repairs or alterations of the sign.

aith the above and other objects in view,

and

ture of the illuminated characters or words which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described more particularly defined by the appended ,claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereizr disclosed invention may be made as come'within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings, Fi re 1 is a front elevation of a sign me e up of illuminated characters constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar view of one of the indicia units;

Figure 3 is a view of one of the units with the cover panel removed;

Figure 4 is a transverse section through one of the tube attaching clips, the same beinitaken on the line H of Figure 3; and,

. igure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5- -5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 designates the conventional type of sign box, in which are assembled, in any suitable manner a plurality of illuminated characters 2, an in the present instance these characters are illustrated in the form of individual letters, 86

however, in some instances the entire word may be constructed in a single unit, such alternative having no bearing upon the present invention, which is directed to the struc-' embodied in the sign.

Each of the illuminated characters 2 comprises a luminescent tube supporting plate 3, which is preferably formed of opaque nonconducting material to provide the most desirable reflecting ba'kground for the luminescent tube, and also to prevent possible shorting of the illuminatin current by the accumulation of moisture between the terminals of the luminescent tube and the supporting plate. Secured to the front face of the supporting plate 3 is a luminescent tube 4, which is shaped in any desired word, character, or indicia, and havin its ends terminated in laterally offset pro ections 5, which extend through openings 6 formed in the supporting plate 3, and carry contact terminals 7 which are connected with a sultable supply circuit in any conventional manner.

Inasmuch as the openings 6 must be of sufiicient diameter to allow the enlarged olfset ends 5 of the tube to be passed therethrough, the same are subsequently covered by split washers 8 formed of pliable insulating material, such as fibre, paper, or the like, and inserted overthose portions of the tube extending through the openings 6.

To secure the luminescent tube 4 to the face of the su porting plate 3, resilient clips 9 are providbd, which yieldably grip the tube at any desired point and are secured to the supporting plate by screws or bolts 10, as

.best shown in Figure4.

Heretofore, it has been customary to attach the luminescent tube to asupport, by means of wires or similar devices, and upon removal and re lacement of the tubes, these wires have to he removed and new wires provided. It will, therefore, be obvious that the structure of clip provided, materially sim lifies attachment and removal of the luminescent tube.

Aside from the novel construction of the clip, as heretofore explained, the structure thus far described, is more or less conventional and constitutes the general manner of constructing a sign utilizing luminescent tubes. It will further be readily seen that jection in a sign constructed in accordancewith the foregoing, the luminescent tube is exposed to the elements and also to damage and breakage'by accidental contact therewith. The resent invention overcomes this oby the provision of a cover panel 11 which is preferably formed of diaphanous glass, in order that the luminescent tube can be clearly visible therethrough. As best shown in Figure 5, the cover panel 11 is assembled uponthe supporting plate 3 by means of the metal cli s 12 WhlCh enga the edges of the plate and cover panel at suitable spaced intervals, thus providing a completely assembled unit, whic may be readily nserted or removed from the conventional sign box now em loyed.

As will be note in Figure 5, the cover panel 11 is provided with semi-circular offset portions 13, shaped to conform to the. character formed by the luminescent tube 4, thus permitting the cover panel to be tightly engaged upon the face of the supporting plate. 3, and providing a complete housing for the luminescent tube 4, secured to the face of the supporting plate. It will also be noted that the oflset portlon 13, is of considerable greatassembled on said face of the same,

character of said tube and of porting plate formed of non-conduetin or width than the diameter of the luminascent tube. The semi-circular and ofiset ortion has the effect of distributing and diffusing the light from the tube in such mannor as to give the appearance of an illuminated character considerable heavier than that going advantages, enables the characters of 35 a sign, to be readily removed for repairs,'or

alterations of the sign.

I claim:

1.- An illuminated sign comprising a supporting plate, a luminescent indicia tube at tached thereto, and a diaphanous panel assembled on said plate to form a housing for said indicia tube, and provided with-offset 7 portions conforming to the shape of said tube and aligned therewith.

2. An illuminated sign comprising a supporting plate, a luminescent tube attached.-

.thereto, and a diaphanous panel assembled on said supporting plate and provided with an offset ortlon conforming to' the indicia.

of said tu e and ali ed therewith, said offset portion being oi diameter of said tube. v

3. An illuminating sign comprising a supporting plate, a luminescent tube attached thereto, and a diaphanous panel assembled on said plate and provided with ofi'set portions semi-circular in cross section and conforming to thecharacter of said tube and of great- 'er widththan the diameter of said tube.

4. An illuminating sign comprising a sup porting plate, a luminescent tube secured to the face of said plate, and a diaph'anous panel with an ofiset-portion conformingv to the than the diameter of said tube. 5. An illuminating sign comprising a supopaque material, a luminescent tube attached to the face of said plate,- and a diaphanous glass panel assembled on said plate and provided with an oifset portion of greater width than the diameter of said tube and conformed to the character of said tube.-

.6.. An illuminating sign comprising a sup- I porting plate, a plurality of resilient-clips secured to the face of said plate, a luminescent tube detachably carried by Said clips,

greater width than the plate and engaging the said panel being provided if iIo' greaterwidth R and a diaphanous panel assembled on'said plate and provided with an offset rtion of greater width than the diameter 0 said tube and conforming to the character of said tube.

7 An illuminated indicia unit comprising a supporting plate, a uminescent tube attached thereto, a diaphanous panel engaging said plate and provided with an ofieet portion forming a complete housing for said tube, said ofl'set portion being of greater width than the diameter of said tube, and means for securing said panel to said supporting plate.

8. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a casing, a supporting panel of insulating material mounte within said casing a gaseous conduction lam in the form of a c aracter mounted on sai supportin paneland having laterally turned termin electrode chambers disposed through said supporting aneLand a glass.face late having a raise character corresponding to the character formed by the lamp disposed on said panel with its raised portion over the lamp and coacting-with said supporting pan-t e'l to rovide a housing for the lamp.

9. n a structure of the class described, the combination with'a casing,ca lamp supporting anel of insulating material, a gaseous con uction tube lamp in the form of a char 1 acter mounted on the front side of said panel,

and a plate of transparent material having a raised portion corresponding in outline to the 7 character arranged over the lamp. 8 V

V the combination with a lamp supporting pan- K 10. In a structure of the class described,

e1, a gaseous conduction tube lamp in the form of a character mounted on the front side of said panel, and a plate of transparent material having a raised portion corresponding in outline to the character arranged over the lamp and coacting with said supporting panel to provide a housing-therefor.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin.

CHARLES J. WAMSER. 

